House model



July 25, 1939.

F. BOLHUIS HOUSE MODEL v Filed Feb. 14, 1938 IN VEN TOR.

flank fiollzais BY ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT orriclz HOUSE MODEL FrankBolhuis, Holland, Mich.

Application February 14, 1938, ,Serial No. 190,385

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to house models, and more particularly tostructures adapted for use by architects, contractors, or lumbercompanies for demonstration and selling purposes.

The subject matter herein shown and described is of the generalcharacter shown and described in my co-pending application, Serial No.130,437, filed March 12, 1937 and subsequently issued into Patent No2,118,338, dated May 24, 1938.

The primary objects of the instant invention are to provide such a modelhaving an improved frame for the reception and retention ofinterchangeable wall panels, said frame being adjustable both as tolength and as to width; to provide improved means for securing togetherin vertical series a plurality of one story frame sections with theirrespective panel receiving slots in vertical alignment; and, to providein such a frame, corner members and panel receiving corner bars ofsimple and economical construction and of especial adaptability fortheir intend-ed use.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the house model, certain wall panelsbeing omitted and certain other wall panels being shown fragmentarilyand in raised positions;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of an upper corner of a firststory frame section and an adjacent lower corner of a second story framesection;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 showing a modified formof construction; and

Figure 5 is a reduced elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 4.

Referring then to the drawing in which like numerals refer to like partsin the several views, the house model shown in Figure 1 comprises afirst story frame section designated generally 10, a second story framesection secured to the first story section and designated generally II,a gable roof l2 resting on top of the second story section II, andsuitable wall and floor panels hereinafter described in detail.

The frame sections I0 and II are identical in construction for economyof manufacture and of course more sections may be added in verticalseries if desired to produce a model having a greater number of stories.

The several upper and lower corner members 13 are also identical inconstruction, each of said corner members [3 being made from a, singleblank of metal and comprising a middle right triangular horizontallydisposed web [4 having screw receiving apertures therethrough, and righttriangular sides i5 integral with the web 14 and extending verticallyfrom the adjacent right angularly intersecting edges of the web l4,these sides flanges i9 and 20 providing therebetween a panel receivingslot 2| and which corner rails are connected together along their middleportions 22 as by spot welding.

The wider side flange 2B of each of these corner rails I8 is secured atits. opposite ends to vertically aligned sides I5 of a vertically spacedoppositely disposed pair of corner members l3, as by spot welding 31.The connecting middle portion 22 of each corner rail l8 forms an angleof substantially 45 degrees with the sides l5 of the corner members i3so that a pair of such corner rails may be secured to the exteriorcorners of the corner members with their connecting middle portions 22in flush contact.

Horizontally disposed side rails 23 of angle iron construction are spotwelded at 24 tothe inner vertical and horizontal surfaces of each-cornermember I3 and each' side rail 23 extends horizontally from its cornermember l3 to telescopically slidably engage a side rail of the 0ppositecorner member I3. One of these mutually engaging side rails 23 may besomewhat larger than the other, having its marginal edges 25 flangedover to embrace the marginal edges of the smaller rail, as best seen inFigure 3.

Each horizontal and vertical fiange of these side rails 23 is providedwith a series of apertures 26 and fastening means such as bolts 21 andnuts 28 may be secured in registering apertures 26 of the mutuallyengaging side rails 23 to rigidly connect the rails in longitudinallyadjusted relation. In this manner the frame sections are adjusted bothas: to width and as to length to accommodate wall panels 29 of desiredwidths, the marginal edges of which wall panels are received andretained in slots 2| of corner rails I8 and which wall panels bearrepresentations of the walls of a house.

The modified rail fastening means shown in Figures 4 and 5 comprises across sectionally right tures 26.

triangular wedge member 38 having screws 39 threaded therein. This wedgemember 38 may be slidably inserted between the smaller side rail 23 andthe flanged edges 25 of the larger side rail, the screws 39 then beingtightened to engage in the angle of the smaller rail, the acute angularbolts 30 passing through aligned apertures in the adjacent upper cornermembers M of the lower section 10 and lower corner members I! of theupper section II. Thus the corner rails of the two sections are alignedand wall panels of suitable height bearing representations of a twostory structure may be inserted in the aligned panel receiving slots 2|.7

The flanged-over pointsor ends l6 of sides 15 of the corner'members l3form supportingledges 3| which are utilized in the first story of themodel to support a floor panel 32, the upper surface of which bears anyselected floor plan 33 of a house. Usingthe selected floor plan as aguide, suitable partitioning 34 may be installed within the structureand the floor panel 32 being spaced from the bottom of the frame,representation of the foundation of the house may be made upon the outerwall panels 29.

In the upper story of the model, the floor panel 35 may be disposed uponthe horizontal flanges of side rails 23 and may also bear a floor planuponits upper surface to serve as a guide in :the installation ofpartitions 36.

It will thus be seen that the frame structure herein shown and describedmaybe adjustably assembled and utilized for the demonstration of withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention as the same is defined bythe following a part of a skeleton frame, said rail having longitudinalparallel side flanges forming therebetween a panel receiving slot, oneof said side flanges being adapted to be secured to a vertical surfaceof the frame, and a connecting middle portion forming with said verticalsurface an angle of substantially forty five degrees whereby a pair ofsaid corner rails may be secured to substantially right angularlyintersecting vertical surfaces respectively with the said connecting 10middle portions of said pair of corner rails in flush contact.

2. In a structure ofthe class described, a frame comprising verticallydisposed corner rails having longitudinal panel receiving slots, panels15 hearing representations of the walls of a house and having theiropposite ends detachably in-' serted and retained within the oppositelydisposed slots of adjacent corner rails, and side rails connected tosaid corner rails and extending laterally to longitudinally slidablyengage side .railsiof the adjacent corner rails thus renderingselectively variable the distance between adjacent corner rails so thatthe latter may accommodate panels of different widths. i a V 3. In astructure of the class described, a' frame comprising verticallydisposed corner rails having longitudinalipanel receiving slots,pane1sbearing representations of thewalls of a house and having their oppositeends detachably in- 30 serted and retained within the oppositelydisposed slots of adjacent corner rails, side rails connected to saidcorner rails and extending laterally to longitudinally slidably engageside rails of the adjacent corner rails thus rendering selectively 35variable the distance between adjacent corner rails so that the lattermay accommodate panels of diiferent widths, and means for connectingmutually engaging side rails in ,acljustably slid positions.

4. In a structure of the class described, a frame provided withvertically disposed corner rails having longitudinal panelreceivingslots, securing means for securing onesuch'fr-ame ontop of another suchframe with their respective 45 corner rails in alignment, and panelsbearing representations of the Walls of a two-story house and havingtheir opposite ends detachably inserted and retained within the upperand lower aligned slots of upper and lower corner rails at adjacentcorners of the structure, said panels being substantially the height ofthe combined upper and lower frames.

FRANK BOLHUIS.

